The Weekly Daf #321
Ketubot 4 - 10
Issue # 321 Parshat Tazria
Week of 27 Adar II - 4 Nissan 5760 / 3 - 9 April 2000
By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
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GUARD YOUR EARS
How careful we must be regarding what enters our ears is stressed in
these two statements of Tannaim cited in our gemara:
"Why is the entire ear formed from firm matter while only the lobe is
soft? In order that if one hears something improper he should be able
to fold the lobe into the ear and block out the sound."
"One should avoid allowing idle words to enter his ears because the
ears are the first of all the parts of the body to become burned (they
are the most susceptible to extreme temperature -- Rashi)."
Maharsha thus explains the connection between these two statements:
After first being warned about hearing forbidden words, we are
cautioned to avoid hearing even things that are not forbidden but
which have no positive purpose for serving Hashem through mitzvot. In
this matter the sense of hearing is radically different from the other
senses. Although it is certainly forbidden to see things that are
forbidden as they can provoke improper thoughts, there is no need to
avoid seeing neutral things, even if such viewing serves no positive
purpose in mitzvah performance.
The reason for this distinction is that hearing is the most
susceptible of all the senses, as forbidden words are so prevalent in
human affairs. It is therefore necessary to exercise special
discipline regarding our ears by blocking out even those neutral
words, lest they lead to receiving improper communications as well.
The ear was therefore created in a manner which will bring home this
concept of susceptibility. Whether it is the unprotected ear turning
a painful red in freezing weather, or tingling in an overheated room,
we are constantly reminded of how sensitive that part of the body is
to external influences. This serves to remind us that the sense of
hearing rooted in that ear is also susceptible to external influences,
and that special caution must be exercised regarding what we hear.
* Ketubot 5b
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A SECOND LOOK AT SEVEN BLESSINGS
The "sheva berachot" (seven blessings), which are said at a wedding
and at the feasts of celebration during the following week, contain
something for everyone, from the parties getting married to the people
helping them celebrate. We here offer the observations of Rashi in
regard to a few of those berachot.
The first beracha (at the chupah itself this blessing comes after the
beracha on wine) is the praise of Hashem "Who created everything for
His glory." This is not really a part of the ensuing order of
berachot which deal with the institution of marriage itself. It is
rather a tribute to those who have gathered to do kindness with the
chatan and kallah (groom and bride) by celebrating their simcha. This
is a glorification of the Creator because it reflects the role that He
played in the first wedding in history when He took care of every
detail to unite the first man and woman as a couple.
The final two berachot seem to have similar climaxes, one praising
Hashem for "bringing joy to the chatan and the kallah," and the other
for "bringing joy to the chatan with the kallah." The first of these
deals not with the joy of marriage itself but is rather a prayer for
the success, prosperity and happiness of both the chatan and kallah
for all their days. Since each of them is being blessed our climax is
"and." It is only in the final beracha that we praise Hashem for
creating the special relationship of husband and wife through shared
affection and joy. We therefore conclude this beracha with the term
"chatan with the kallah" for it is this togetherness which Hashem has
blessed with simcha.
* Ketubot 8a
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Written and Compiled by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
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